When We Had Forever by Shalin Ghandi

***this review contains spoilers***

An emotionally powerful roller coaster of a novel about losing and finding love, When We Had Forever is a breathtaking journey through grief, self-discovery, and unexpected passion. Fans of Colleen Hoover, Lucy Score, and Mia Sheridan will find themselves utterly captivated by Shalin Ghandi’s heart-wrenching storytelling--TBH I believe this may be a debut novel and to stand up against some of these other romance baddies is pretty impressive.

This is a Story of Love, Loss, and Second Chances...heavy on the second chances...wink wink!

Mina Drake’s life is shattered when her husband, Michael, dies in a tragic car accident. Six months later, she is still drowning in grief, haunted by memories of their once-happy marriage. But beneath her sorrow lurks an unshakable truth she barely dares to acknowledge—her life is no longer what she thought it was.

As Mina begins to uncover pieces of her past, she is forced to confront difficult emotions and unexpected revelations. And then there’s Grayson—Michael’s estranged brother, a tattooed, brooding photographer with a past as complicated as his piercing gaze. Drawn to him in ways she never expected, Mina is faced with a choice: cling to the past or risk everything for a future she never imagined.

What Makes This Book Unforgettable?

1. Emotional Depth & Raw RealismGhandi portrays grief in its most unfiltered form. Mina’s emotions—her sorrow, guilt, confusion, and reluctant longing—feel painfully real. Readers will ache with her, cry with her, and ultimately heal with her.

2. A Perfectly Paced PlotThe story flows effortlessly, balancing heart-wrenching moments with gripping tension. Just when you think you know what’s coming, the narrative takes an unexpected turn.

3. The Chemistry—Oh, the Chemistry!Mina and Grayson’s slow-burning romance is deliciously angsty and deeply forbidden. The push-and-pull dynamic between them crackles with tension, making every stolen glance and hesitant touch feel electric.

4. Themes of Self-Discovery & Second ChancesBeyond romance, this novel explores what it means to reclaim your identity after loss. Mina’s journey isn’t just about falling in love again—it’s about rediscovering herself and learning that love, in all its forms, is worth the risk.

Final Verdict:

When We Had Forever is an emotionally charged, beautifully written novel that lingers in your heart long after the final page. With its blend of poignant grief, slow-burn romance, and shocking revelations, this book is perfect for those who love their love stories with depth, drama, and a touch of fate. The pacing is spot on, and the plot twist is top-tier—if you adore forbidden love, second chances, and emotional gut punches, this book needs to be on your TBR list!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 Stars)

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the opportunity to read/listen and provide an honest review.

This story absolutely gripped me from the begining. Mina Drakes husband has recently passed away and she is trying to figure out who she is without him. While she is on a journey of self discovery she discovered she didnt really know who her husband was at all. This story is so interesting and I really enjoyed he back and fourth. The pacing was very well and Grayson was so swoony! I absolutely loved this one!

Short synopsis: Mina is a recent widow. After her husband’s death she finds out all the secrets he’d hidden from her.

My thoughts: I loved reading this with @aotmbookclub, it was such a fun one to discuss! I’m keeping my review fairly vague because I feel like this is a great one to go into blind. The authors writing in this was so well done. Seamlessly telling the “before” and “after” while keeping the reading eager to piece together what actually happened.

I did actually guess a fairly large twist early on, but I still really loved watching this one unfold! It ended the way I secretly hoped it would.

If did the majority of this on audio and it was so well done. I would highly recommend listening to this one.

Read if you love:
- Car rides with strangers - Instalove
- Travel
- Dual timelines
- Tension
- Romantic suspense
- Secrets

WAIT WHAT?! What genre is this?! What did I just listen to?! I love suspense and mysteries and romance and this was all of the above. I loved the dual timelines and the twists had me literally gasping. It’s impossible to explain without spoilers so, do yourself a favor, stop reading this review and go read this book!!! The audio version is narrated by the always amazing, Carly Robins and I would highly recommend it.

This is a perfect fit for readers who crave emotionally charged, challenging love stories that explore the complexities of relationships, grief, and the power of second chances, and who are drawn to authors like Colleen Hoover and Lucy Score.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for my honest review

Even though I like both genres, for whatever reason I was expecting this book to be more of a mystery thriller, but in reality it was more of a romance. It was still pretty enjoyable overall and I did like the narrator.

I thought this book was really enjoyable. It hooked me in from the very first chapter. It was one where I really enjoyed all the characters, too.

I totally didn’t expect to like this as much as I did. It’s farfetched - like WAY farfetched, but was interesting enough to keep me following the story. Mina is a widow and mourning the loss of her husband. Told in dual timelines, (Before and After death) she narrates life with her husband before his death, and meeting his estranged brother after he’s gone.


The story has a pretty large twist that I personally did not see coming, which is so refreshing! I think anyone reading or listening to this would find the story and characters enjoyable. The audio narration was fantastic.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio, Shaylin Gandhi, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen and review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ALC, in exchange for an honest review.

When We Had Forever by Shaylin Gandhi is a gripping read that I couldn’t put down. This story unfolds across two timelines, mixing romance with mystery in a way that kept me hooked from start to finish. The writing is beautifully crafted, with many lines that I found myself coming back to again and again.

The plot centers around Mina, who’s struggling to cope with the sudden loss of her husband in a car accident. As she begins to dig into their past, a startling truth comes to light, forcing her to question everything she thought she knew about their relationship.

The mystery builds at just the right speed, keeping you on edge until the shocking twist is revealed. But it’s the emotional journey that makes this story truly stand out. Mina’s path through grief and self-discovery is moving and filled with raw moments of heartache, but also moments of hope.

The relationship between Mina and Grayson is layered and intense. Their chemistry is undeniable, adding an extra spark to the already suspenseful plot. Shaylin does an amazing job blending romance, suspense, and deep emotional moments, making this a book you won’t forget anytime soon. Carly Robins’s narration is also top-notch, bringing so much depth and feeling to the characters.

I ended up reading this vs listening due to the timing of this approval and wanting to read it closer to the pub date. I have no doubt it would make a great audiobook.

I expected a basic contemporary romance... what I got was an emotionally roller coaster with twists and turns worthy of a 90s soap opera. Holy moly did this story catch me off guard. At the 68% mark I literally gasped aloud. I did not see that twist coming. but oh my was the ending satisfying.

What a beautiful book. Shaylin Gandhi is a gifted writer who has left her readers waiting for far too long since the publication of her phenomenal By the Light of Embers. When We Had Forever is a complicated love story woven together strand by strand into a beautiful shawl you want to wrap yourself up in. Mina had a near-perfect marriage and is devastated at her husband, Michael's, tragic death. The sex between them was always sizzling, and everything else was . . . fine. But as time goes by, Mina gradually and reluctantly begins to acknowledge the oddities in their partnership while slowly becoming acquainted with Michael's identical twin brother--whom Michael had never wanted Mina to know. There are numerous twists and turns, some of which I saw coming, but many that surprised me. The author has more books coming soon in different genres, but I hope she returns to Women's [Romantic} fiction again soon.

Mina is grappling to deal with the loss of her husband and love of her life, Michael, who passed away in a car crash. But as the months pass she comes to the realization that her marriage was already over before he died. When she finds something in his office, it changes the course of her life.

This book was just beautiful! I am gushing so hard at how much this book filled me with warmth.
The “before” portion of the book that focused on the initial meeting and beginning of the love story between Michael and Mina was so magically satisfying and intense. His confidence, self-assurance and charm and her open honestness along with her self-awareness made for a great conversation and instant connection between the two. You could feel them connecting on level beyond friends instantly.

She decides to stay with Michael and not chase her adventure in Greece, but he changes after a confrontation with his twin brother Grayson, a famous photographer. He’s more closed off and not as free and open as the years go on.

This story had alternate timelines of “before” and “after” Michael’s death. It showed how their love changed throughout the years and how she felt like she gave up something for him and his promises that he never delivered. They were soulmates and had this connection but it changed and only surfaced once in a while. It also had a big twist that I suspected early on and it came to fruition!

The writing was so crisp and beautiful. The way she described the characters and the internal thoughts were profound. The dialogue was well written and just made things so crystal clear. You may need to suspend your disbelief a bit but for me it didn’t take away anything from the story.

The narrator, Carly Robins, is amazing! Every time I listen to a book narrated by her I can feel the emotions pouring off the page. She really makes the characters' feelings come to life and jump at you as she breathes life into the words and the cadence of her voice is perfect. She is one of my favorites for a reason!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for sharing this book’s digital advanced review copy with me in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book through a digital ALC from NetGalley
Author: Shaylin Gandhi
Genre: Romance

Mina's husband has passed away tragically. She goes to spend time at their cabin in the woods to reflect and work through her grief. It's there that she reconnects with her husband's estranged brother and discovers some things about her husband. I thought this book combined romance and mystery elements well. It is a very touching story and I really felt for Mina's character especially when I read she had always wanted to travel but never really got the chance. Traveling is something that is on my bucket list, so I really connected to her desire.

This is NOT your typical romance novel…
When We Had Forever by Shaylin Gandhi explores love, loss, and second chances.
The chemistry between the main characters is palpable, and their emotional growth is incredibly encouraging. I appreciated how the novel delves into themes of self-discovery and healing, giving the characters space to evolve and find their way back to each other, both physically and emotionally.

What really sets this book apart is the unexpected twist in the final third. Without giving too much away, the revelation shifts the entire narrative in a way that completely redefines the characters' relationship and the nature of their past. This adds layers of depth to the story and leaves readers wanting more, while also offering a fresh perspective on the love they share.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a contemporary romance with a bit of a twist! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 rounded up

This story follows Mina Drake as she wades through grief after her husband’s death, and reflects back on their life together. It’s an emotional journey and I really enjoyed this story. I did find the twist to be predictable but I really appreciated the journey and storytelling. It’s well written and the audio production was fantastic.

A book that will stay with you for a long time after. You will not be able to put this book down. Just wonderfully written and put together.

4.5⭐️ 2🌶️
I listened to the audiobook, and wow! This is probably one of the most unique 2nd chance romances I’ve personally read. The twist didn’t surprise me, as I do have twin brothers…. But my heart hurt for Grayson, and especially Mina in this story. I can’t imagine how much it must have hurt to realize the betrayal she went under. Overall I loved this storyline, and the audiobook was beautifully done.

I received an audiobook ARC of this book from NetGalley. I thought this book would be more of a mystery/thriller, but it was actually more of a romance. Perhaps the mistaken assumption is on me, but the impression I got from the synopsis of the book led me to believe what was mentioned above.

Unfortunately, for about 70% of the book I was bored. Then after getting through that part the book quickly picked up and honestly felt rushed as well as somewhat unrealistic. I did enjoy the narrator and appreciated the Before and After POVs.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen and review.

This was a captivating story about a woman who is navigating the loss of her husband & has her world & everything she thought was true flipped upside down. Suspenseful romance. Journey of dealing with life’s losses, fears, dreams, unexpected truths, and starting over. I will say the main “plot twist” was very obvious to me from the start… so not sure if it was meant to be that way or not… but even knowing where the story was going it kept me hooked nonetheless.